Toothpick dispenser



June 11, 1940.

C. ANDERSON TOOTHPICK DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1939 June 11, Q D N 2,203,765

TOOTHPICK DISPENSER Filed Aug. 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 A itorneys I Patented June 11; 1940 UNITED STATES TOOTHPICK DISPENSER,

Christ Anderson, Ontonagon, Mich, assignor of one-third to CharlesA. Willman and one-third to Roy Muskatt, both of Ontonagon, Mich.

Application August 24, 1939, Serial No. 291,768 2 Claims. (01. 312-47) This invention relates to a dispenser for toothpicks, the general object of the invention being to provide means whereby the toothpicks can be dispensed one at a time by the operation of a manually operated member, the toothpicks being held in a case until they are dispensed so that the picks are held in a sanitary condition and cannot be contaminated by insects or dust.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims. p p

In describing theinvention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which: I

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device with the same in inoperated position.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is aside view with parts broken away showing the device in dispensing position.

Figure 4 is a sectionon the line'4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing the operating handle.

In these views the numeral I indicates a base part which is of inverted channel-shape in cross section with its flanges bent back upon themselves as shown at 2 and the edges of these bent parts bent over the bight of the channel to provide the guides 3. The case is shown at 4 and has its bottom side parts bent outwardly to form the flanges 5 which operate in the guides 3 so that the case has longitudinal movement on the base. The top of the case has a sliding cover 6 and a window I is located in the front of the case- A spring member 8 is fastened to the base and engages the rear wall of the case and acts to hold the case in rearward position with the lower end of the rear wall thereof against an upturned flange 9 at the rear of the base. A rod l0 extends across the lower part of the case and is adapted to be engaged by a crank II on a shaft I2 journaled in the base and having one end extending through a side part of the base with said end bent upwardly as shown at l3 to form a handle whereby the shaft can be rocked. When the handle is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 5 the crank II will engage the rod l0 and force the entire case forwardly on the base, the flanges 5 at the lower endof the case moving in the guideways 3 of the base. When the handle is released the spring 8 will move the case rearwardly on the base. The top of the base is formed with an opening US through which the crank H extends as shown in Figure 1.

The forward part of the top of the base is formed with a slot l5 and the metal of the base immediately in rearof the slot is pressed downwardly to form a depression I B and the front end of the top of the base is formed with a notch l1 and with grooves I8, one on each side of the notch with the metal in front of each groove bent up to form the lips I9. A false bottom member 2|] is pivoted at the rear ofthe case intermediate the top and bottom thereof by a rod 2| and said member 2!} slopes downwardly and forwardly and has a notch 22 cut in its front end, the metal between the cuts being bent downwardly to form a tongue 23 which curves downwardly and forwardly with its end rounded so as to engage the slot [5 as the case is moved forwardly.

The parts are so constructed and arranged that when the case is in its rearward position the tongue 23 is resting on the top of the base adjacent the rear end of the depression l6 and this holds themember 2!! in raised position with its front end close to the front wall of the case so that the toothpicks or other members placed in the case and resting on the member 2|] cannot pass below this member 20. When a pick is desired the operator moves the handle I3 in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5, thus causing the crank ll of shafts I 2 to engage the rod l0 which moves the entire case forwardly against the action of the spring 8. During this forward movement the tongue 23 of member 2|] moves down into the depression and this guides the tongue into the slot l5 as shown in Figure 3 and this spaces the front end of the member 20 from the front wall of the case permitting a pick or other object in the case to pass through said space and drop into the grooves I81 at the front end of the base, it being understood that when l the member 20 is lowered sufliciently to permit a pick to pass between its front end and the wall of the case, said front end of the member 21] is located adjacent the grooves l8 so that picks will drop into the grooves. Then the case returns to its rearward position under the action of the spring 8 and the pick is exposed to view at the front end of the base and can be readily picked up as it bridges the notch ll.

As before stated the device is mainly intended comprising a base having a slot in its front part and a guiding depression in rear of said front part, a case slidably arranged on the base, a downwardly and forwardly sloping member in the case, means for pivotally supporting the rear end of said member in the case, the front end of said member being provided with a notch and a tongue which curves downwardly and forwardly for resting on the base for holding the sloping member in a position with its front end adjacent the front Wall of the case, said tongue engaging in the guide means and then in the slot when the case is moved forwardly, the engagement of the tongue in the slot moving the sloping member downwardly to space its front end from the front wall of the case to permit an article to pass between said front end and said front wall, and said front end of the base having receiving means therein for receiving the object dropping from the sloping member.

2. A dispensing device of the class described comprising a base having a slot in its front part, and a guiding depression in rear of the slot and said front part of the base having a receiving groove in front of the slot, a case, guiding means between the case and the base for slidably supporting the case on the base for forward and rearward movement, spring means for normally holding the case in its rearward movement, manually operated means for moving the case forwardly, a sloping member in the case, means for pivotally connecting the rear end of said sloping member with the rear part of the case, said sloping member having a notch in its front end, and a tongue curved downwardly and forwardly through the notch, said tongue engaging a part of the base and holding the front end of the sloping memberadjacent the front wall of the case to prevent articles placed in the case on the sloping member from dropping off the sloping member, said tongue being guided into the slot by the depression when the case is moved forwardly to cause the sloping member to move downwardly to permit an object to drop therefrom into the 

